FOI Information Officer - #1768116

Vacancy Details

Role- FOI Information Officer

Duration: Permanent

Location: The roles will all be hybrid based.

Salary: £30,000 - £34,000 depending on experience.

About DFT Operator

DfT Operator (DFTO) is the public sector rail Owning Group with responsibility for all train operating companies (TOC's) as they transfer into public ownership. It is a publicly owned company established by the Department for Transport in 2018.

Our ambition is to deliver safe, secure and sustainable transport to everyone, everywhere. At the heart of this promise is improving journeys and providing customers with an excellent service, while supporting the industry to build a more passenger-focused railway.

We currently have four train operators: London North Eastern Railway (LNER) - Northern - Southeastern - TransPennine Express (TPE), delivering four and a half thousand services a day, and 300 million customer journeys across our network every year. Over the next 3 years, we will complete the transfer of all passenger services operated under contracts with the Department for Transport (DfT).

Our vision is to unify and strengthen train operators under the DFTO banner. By working collaboratively, we aim to become industry-leading in safety, customer service, financial and operational performance.

About The Legal & Compliance Directorate

The Legal and Compliance Directorate play a pivotal role providing legal support, oversight and strategic direction across multiple DFTO TOCs (“TOC Group”) to ensure the efficient, timely and risk mitigated provision of quality and commercially focused legal advice.

About The Role

Log, process and respond to information access requests for the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Department for Transport Operator Ltd (DFTO) in line with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Key Competencies

• Competent drafting skills.
• Strong verbal reasoning skills with the ability to engage with and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a fast-paced, regulated environment.
• Keen interest in information access rights legislation.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information and explain the same in an accessible format.
• Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple requests and meet statutory deadlines
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Review and manage high volumes of FOI and EIR requests, in line with legislative requirements and internal processes, working with stakeholders to meet statutory deadlines.
• Collate and issue detailed written responses to information requests, identifying relevant colleagues within DFTO and the various TOCs.
• Analyse, evaluate and interpret sensitive, complex or technical information, by verifying with relevant subject matter experts and reviewing legal guidance and precedents to make proportionate, evidenced and auditable decisions on disclosure.
• Provide practical, well-reasoned and legally compliant responses to FOIA/EIR requests by negotiating with, and influencing colleagues, applicants and third parties so that the DFTO follows best practice in dealing with requests.
• Support the FOI Manager(s) to manage cases in accordance with agreed processes, to develop knowledge of information rights law and increase capacity to make decisions on/deal with cases independently.
• Provide a high level of customer service, by proactively engaging with applicants to clarify the request, manage customer expectations and achieve the right outcome.
• Support the FOI Manager(s) and wider team in dealing with legally challenging, sensitive or high-profile requests.
• Carefully logging request details in centralised database to support with reporting and day to day functioning of the FOI team.
• Review current FOI/EIR processes and provide ideas and solutions to continuously improve processes and outcomes.
  
  

Essential

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications

• Demonstrable ability to identify/solve problems and make decisions.
• Demonstratable ability to think analytically and absorb technical detail quickly.
• Proven evidence of strong oral and written communication skills.
• Evidence of Influencing and stakeholder and customer management skills.
• Demonstrable high level of organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Evidence of teamwork and building positive relationships
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and remain effective in dynamic environments, including through times of change.
• IT literate and experienced in using the basic Microsoft suite of applications: Word, Outlook, Excel.
  
  

Desirable

• Paralegal/legal background
• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent
• A working knowledge of the FOI Act / EIR regime and an understanding of current legislative requirements
• An understanding of wider information access legislation such as the Data Protection Act and the principles of good information management.
• Willingness and capacity to undertake formal FOI training.
  
  

Some Of Our Great Benefits

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

Annual Leave 25 days

Opportunities to learn across the wider industry

10 % pension contribution

Plus more….

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.